Forbes, Gerrit, 1880-1964

President Roosevelt encloses the revised lists of supplies for Frederick Courteney Selous. He discusses his reasoning behind the revisions and provides Selous with his travel itinerary. Gerrit Forbes recently visited Roosevelt and recounted his recent hunt in Africa. Roosevelt is reluctant to hire a white man for the trip but will do so if Selous suggests it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he has never used a peep sight for hunting, and describes the type of rifle sights he likes best, including a hand-drawn sketch. Roosevelt relays some details about the timing of travel for his upcoming African safari, saying he is pleased to be able to start the hard physical part of the trip by degrees at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. The president hopes to stop over in England on the return trip to see Buxton, Frederick Courteney Selous, and other friends. Roosevelt has ordered the books Buxton recommended, and thanks him for sending an interesting extract from a report by J. H. Patterson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt introduces Knox C. Philander to Gerrit Forbes, cousin of W. Cameron Forbes, governor of the Philippines. Gerrit Forbes is planning to travel to Africa to conduct ethnological research, with letters of support from Harvard University and the Peabody Museum. Roosevelt hopes Philander can secure a letter from the State Department to help Forbes when he encounters French, Belgian, and English officials.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt discusses which gun sights he prefers with Edward North Buxton. He also confirms the dates when he expects to arrive in Africa. Citing concern about his being “an exceedingly soft individual,” Roosevelt intends to “break in” his body at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch before the main hunt. He recently spoke to Gerrit Forbes about the hunting trip in Africa that he just returned from.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt hopes that Frederick Courteney Selous received the shoe he sent. He discusses various supplies he thinks he should bring on his upcoming safari, based on a book by J. H. Patterson and advice he got from Gerrit Forbes, who recently returned from hunting in Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt discusses the various supplies, including food and drink, that he should bring on his safari. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that he does not want the trip to be too luxurious, and does not want to bring very much alcohol. He also discusses the type of guns he should use and when he intends to leave for Africa. Selous’s friend Charles Sheldon recently visited Roosevelt and told about his hunting experiences in Alaska. Roosevelt has been invited to give the Romanes lecture in Oxford in 1910, and will be going to England after he leaves Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he intends to visit Sir William Northrup McMillan’s farm in Africa, but will first visit and stay at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. Gerrit Forbes, a young Harvard man who just returned from a hunting trip in Africa, would like to go with Roosevelt to help manage his caravan. However, Roosevelt believes he will go with the more experienced William C. Judd. Pease suggested that F. R. Wingate could provide Roosevelt with leather stockings. Roosevelt must now turn most of his attention to helping William H. Taft win the presidency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt spoke last night with Gerrit Forbes and Theodore Lyman, two men who have hunted big game in Africa. Both took the .405 Winchester and reported problems with it jamming. Roosevelt asks the Winchester Repeating Arms Company to be extremely careful with his and Kermit’s rifles, and to run a lot of shells through them to be sure they do not jam.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

William L. Smith offers advice for President Roosevelt’s upcoming East Africa expedition, including what sort of camera to bring along, and the sort of treatment necessary to prevent malaria. Smith suggests purchasing  $400 Naturalists Graflex camera in order to take photographs of animals at a distance, and explains how to best care for the plates, plate holder, and film box so the photos will not get ruined. He additionally recommends Dr. Koch’s preventative malaria treatment which involves taking powdered quinine for two successive days each week. Smith met with three friends who recently returned from East Africa who also saw Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-25

Creator(s)

Smith, William L. (William Lord), 1863-1946

Theodore Lyman thanks President Roosevelt for his hospitality on Saturday night. He enjoyed his time in Washington immensely. If Roosevelt gets extra specimens on his African trip that the National Museum in Washington does not want, the museum at Harvard would welcome them. Lyman hopes that Roosevelt does not listen to Gerrit Forbes and opt to wear a felt hat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-16

Creator(s)

Lyman, Theodore, 1874-1954

President Roosevelt asks if Commissioner of Commerce and Police in the Philippines W. Cameron Forbes can bring his cousin and big game hunter, Gerrit Forbes, to dinner on November 14. Several African big game hunters will be in attendance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to W. Cameron Forbes and asks him to bring his cousin Gerrit Forbes to a dinner that will be attended by two or three African hunters.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-10-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919